We found this not-so-little critter on the lawn tractor when we were
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Why walk when you can ride on the John Deere?
We found this not-so-little critter on the lawn tractor when we were
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Well, how do you like them apples?
A few months ago, I noticed a new flowering shrub in my back forty. I wondered if it was cherry or apple, and marvelled at its appearance. Then I promptly forgot about it.
This morning, some small red spheres caught my eye as I was hanging laundry. It turns out the the mysterious blossoms were the precusors to tiny MacIntosh apples.
I think I tossed a few apple cores in that general area several years ago, and Mother Nature did the rest.
None of the fruit appears edible at this point, as each apple appears to be blighted with some sort of black marking. Perhaps, with a little nurturing, next year's crop will be better.
This morning, some small red spheres caught my eye as I was hanging laundry. It turns out the the mysterious blossoms were the precusors to tiny MacIntosh apples.
I think I tossed a few apple cores in that general area several years ago, and Mother Nature did the rest.
None of the fruit appears edible at this point, as each apple appears to be blighted with some sort of black marking. Perhaps, with a little nurturing, next year's crop will be better.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The year of the deer
This evening, while we were picking up some pizza in the Jersey suburbs, my mother-in-law and I saw a pair of fawns at the edge of the treeline. This marks the fourth time in a month that I've seen baby McFawnersons - and only the fifth time in my life that I can recall seeing fawns in the wild.
One of the fawns had blue eyes. Is this a rare thing? I can't say that I've ever seen pictures of a deer with blue eyes, let alone one in real life.
Does anyone out there know - have the deer been particularly prolific this year? Or have I just failed to observe the fawns all around me?
One of the fawns had blue eyes. Is this a rare thing? I can't say that I've ever seen pictures of a deer with blue eyes, let alone one in real life.
Does anyone out there know - have the deer been particularly prolific this year? Or have I just failed to observe the fawns all around me?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Political Haiku
Dear Mister Powell
Please run for Vice President
Restore your honour.
Still can't understand
Why you lied to the U. N.
How did they make you?
Faux News is saying
You will endorse Obama
Maybe there is hope.
Please run for Vice President
Restore your honour.
Still can't understand
Why you lied to the U. N.
How did they make you?
Faux News is saying
You will endorse Obama
Maybe there is hope.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
That'll do.
It only took us ten years, but we finally made good on the promise that we had made to ourselves to take in the Kingston Sheep Dog Trials. It was a beautiful day, a truly perfect summer day - warm but breezy, surrounded by other dog-loving country folk.
Friday, August 08, 2008
To boldly go where no MMORPG has gone before ...
I'm not much of a gamer, but I'm an unapologetic, geeky Star Trek fan.
My husband, on the other hand, can often be found in Paragon City or Middle Earth. He's also a Trekkie, though he loses credibility by insisting that Kirk was the superior Captain to Picard. He's obviously wrong, but I love him anyway.
Needless to say, there was great excitement in this household when my brother-in-law let us in on the secret - that his company, Cryptic Studios, would be launching the Star Trek Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game. There's an interview with him about the game, here, on the CTV website.
Jack will also share the stage with Spock on Sunday.
dramatic pause ...
Engage!
My husband, on the other hand, can often be found in Paragon City or Middle Earth. He's also a Trekkie, though he loses credibility by insisting that Kirk was the superior Captain to Picard. He's obviously wrong, but I love him anyway.
Needless to say, there was great excitement in this household when my brother-in-law let us in on the secret - that his company, Cryptic Studios, would be launching the Star Trek Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game. There's an interview with him about the game, here, on the CTV website.
Jack will also share the stage with Spock on Sunday.
dramatic pause ...
Engage!
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Going batty
This little fellow took up residence on the stucco wall outside the Olive Garden in Clay, NY, this afternoon. I suspect that he wanted some breadsticks.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
A beautiful memorial
Last summer, a terrible motorcycle accident took the life of Heather A. Freeman. The butterfly house at our local zoo was renamed for her.
I didn't know Heather, but I don't think there could be anything more beautiful to honour her memory.
Here are some pics I took there today.
I didn't know Heather, but I don't think there could be anything more beautiful to honour her memory.
Here are some pics I took there today.
My Fifteen Minutes Approacheth
A few weeks ago, my husband encouraged me to submit my favourite daytrip to my favourite CBC radio show, Fresh Air, for their "Tell us where to go in the nicest possible way" promotion.
I just got off the phone with the host, Jeff Goodes. He is as delightful and down-to-earth on the phone as he is on his show.
This Sunday morning, at 0745, I'll get to talk to Jeff again about this trip! If you live outside the range of CBC Southern Ontario, and really want to know what this crazy blogger sounds like, you can hear a live stream from CBC Toronto!
I just got off the phone with the host, Jeff Goodes. He is as delightful and down-to-earth on the phone as he is on his show.
This Sunday morning, at 0745, I'll get to talk to Jeff again about this trip! If you live outside the range of CBC Southern Ontario, and really want to know what this crazy blogger sounds like, you can hear a live stream from CBC Toronto!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Aieeeeeee!!!!
I think that bats are cool. I love to sit outside after dusk and watch them flit about, and I've even learned to cope with their presence within my own personal space.
But .. Sweet Sparking Jeebus, if I ever find a bat in my bra, while said bra is wrangling my bosoms into a socially acceptable form, please just shoot me and put me out of my misery!
{shudder}
But .. Sweet Sparking Jeebus, if I ever find a bat in my bra, while said bra is wrangling my bosoms into a socially acceptable form, please just shoot me and put me out of my misery!
{shudder}
Monday, July 07, 2008
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Friday, July 04, 2008
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Victory is mine!
I have finally scored a great photo of my favourite water bird, the Great Blue Heron!
Entymology lesson for the day
The Damselfly ~~
can be differentiated from ~~
The Dragonfly ~~
by observing the position of the wings while the insect is at rest.
The Damselfly holds its wings alongside its body, whereas the holds its wings horizontally.
I didn't know this, but my 10 year old did. It's a good thing we home school, or I'd never learn anything!
can be differentiated from ~~
The Dragonfly ~~
by observing the position of the wings while the insect is at rest.
The Damselfly holds its wings alongside its body, whereas the holds its wings horizontally.
I didn't know this, but my 10 year old did. It's a good thing we home school, or I'd never learn anything!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
My Favourite Daytrip
Yesterday, the Eagle-eyed Scientist and I embarked on one of my favourite excursions. We headed northeast on Route 37, through Amish country, and crossed into Canada at the Ogdensburg bridge. We headed to Morrisburg to see how the dinosaurs were doing.
Prehistoric World is the labour of love of two brothers. Over the past 20 some-odd years, they have been building life-sized replicas of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures out of rebar, wire mesh, and poured concrete. They have literally turned their back yard into a walk through time, and they have done it on their own terms. They take great pride in the fact that they have created a venue for their art with their own hands and their own money. There have been no investors, no government grants, and no shareholders to tell them what they can or cannot do. They stopped advertising years ago, have no web presence, and operate only three months out of the year. They refer to themselves as artists, not businessmen, and they are the epitome of self-actualization.
The Maiasaura is still under construction, and is a little behind schedule, as the brothers are currently devoting their energy and attention to their elderly mother. After five months in the hospital, recuperating from a fractured femur, the brothers have taken on the task of caring for their Mom at home. This Rehab Nurse will tell you that their days are not easy, and that Maman is a lucky woman who raised two fine sons.
From Morrisburg, we headed straight north on Highway 31 to Little Ray's Reptiles, in Ottawa's south end. Little Ray has taken his business in the opposite direction from our friends at Prehistoric World, aggressively aiming for bigger and better.
His advertising amuses me.
Packing that much information onto a SmartCar is truly impressive.
The Eagle-Eyed Scientist appreciated the tactile beauty of the Albino Burmese Python. I appreciated it from a distance. Mom, you may want to scroll down quickly at this point.
Little Ray's Reptiles is a sanctuary for the orphans and refugees of the "exotic" pet trade. Most of their critters started out as someone's "cool" pet, who became homeless after the coolness wore off and the reality of caring for large hungry reptiles set in, and Little Ray stepped in to save their lives. For this, I have a deep and abiding admiration. So, I was more than a little confused when I saw that, as part of their ever-expanding business model, they are now selling iguanas, bearded dragons, and ball pythons.
No trip to Ottawa is complete without a little retail therapy at Ikea, so we made our obligatory pilgrimage to all things Swedish and wonderful. There's nothing like a little fine and sensible design to slough off the reptilian-induced heebie-jeebies!
Prehistoric World is the labour of love of two brothers. Over the past 20 some-odd years, they have been building life-sized replicas of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures out of rebar, wire mesh, and poured concrete. They have literally turned their back yard into a walk through time, and they have done it on their own terms. They take great pride in the fact that they have created a venue for their art with their own hands and their own money. There have been no investors, no government grants, and no shareholders to tell them what they can or cannot do. They stopped advertising years ago, have no web presence, and operate only three months out of the year. They refer to themselves as artists, not businessmen, and they are the epitome of self-actualization.
The Maiasaura is still under construction, and is a little behind schedule, as the brothers are currently devoting their energy and attention to their elderly mother. After five months in the hospital, recuperating from a fractured femur, the brothers have taken on the task of caring for their Mom at home. This Rehab Nurse will tell you that their days are not easy, and that Maman is a lucky woman who raised two fine sons.
From Morrisburg, we headed straight north on Highway 31 to Little Ray's Reptiles, in Ottawa's south end. Little Ray has taken his business in the opposite direction from our friends at Prehistoric World, aggressively aiming for bigger and better.
His advertising amuses me.
Packing that much information onto a SmartCar is truly impressive.
The Eagle-Eyed Scientist appreciated the tactile beauty of the Albino Burmese Python. I appreciated it from a distance. Mom, you may want to scroll down quickly at this point.
Little Ray's Reptiles is a sanctuary for the orphans and refugees of the "exotic" pet trade. Most of their critters started out as someone's "cool" pet, who became homeless after the coolness wore off and the reality of caring for large hungry reptiles set in, and Little Ray stepped in to save their lives. For this, I have a deep and abiding admiration. So, I was more than a little confused when I saw that, as part of their ever-expanding business model, they are now selling iguanas, bearded dragons, and ball pythons.
No trip to Ottawa is complete without a little retail therapy at Ikea, so we made our obligatory pilgrimage to all things Swedish and wonderful. There's nothing like a little fine and sensible design to slough off the reptilian-induced heebie-jeebies!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Hungry Babies, Protective Momma!
Waiting babies,
Hungry babies,
Glaring Momma,
Here comes Momma!
(Please click on each picture to embiggen!)
Hungry babies,
Glaring Momma,
Here comes Momma!
(Please click on each picture to embiggen!)
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Woo Hoo!!!!!!!
Today marks the beginning of the end of a dark and dangerous practice. The great state of New York is moving to ban mandatory overtime for nurses!
In the past year, I have only been mandated once, and that was one time too many. When my twelve hour night shift ends at 07:30, I barely have enough steam to drive the five miles back home. An additional four hours, at the busiest time of the day on the floor, is just plain dangerous.
This is a great day for nurses, and a great day for our patients!
In the past year, I have only been mandated once, and that was one time too many. When my twelve hour night shift ends at 07:30, I barely have enough steam to drive the five miles back home. An additional four hours, at the busiest time of the day on the floor, is just plain dangerous.
This is a great day for nurses, and a great day for our patients!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Isn't he lovely?
Please welcome the newest member of the family!
We have adopted a 2004 Mini Cooper S!!
His name is Baby.
Well, what else would you expect Miniature Rose to drive?
We have adopted a 2004 Mini Cooper S!!
His name is Baby.
Well, what else would you expect Miniature Rose to drive?
Sunday, June 08, 2008
It's good to be back in my own ecosystem
Last week, a mere 28 months after my husband was medically evacuated from Iraq in order to figure out why he's been so sick, he was seen by the specialists at the Deployment Health Clinical Center at Walter Reed.
Better late than never, eh?
We still have no clear answers, but I firmly believe that we are one step closer to figuring it all out. The MD on the assessment team is probably the smartest guy at Walter Reed, and a decent human being to boot. His assessment was thorough and thoughtful. I could almost see the gears in his head turning as he tried to put the puzzle pieces together.
The one thing that he did not do - and this is a significant departure from our previous experiences at the major medical facility that my husband calls "the abattoir" - was to diminish or deny Steve's symptoms. He believed that Steve is sick, and believed that he wants to get better. Believe me, my friends - it makes all the difference in the world.
This was our first visit to Walter Reed since the Washington Post blew the whistle on the horrendous conditions there last year. I am pleased to report that, overall, there seems to be a change in the tone and atmosphere of the place. Maybe the $800,000 spent on pixie dust was worth it, after all.
Better late than never, eh?
We still have no clear answers, but I firmly believe that we are one step closer to figuring it all out. The MD on the assessment team is probably the smartest guy at Walter Reed, and a decent human being to boot. His assessment was thorough and thoughtful. I could almost see the gears in his head turning as he tried to put the puzzle pieces together.
The one thing that he did not do - and this is a significant departure from our previous experiences at the major medical facility that my husband calls "the abattoir" - was to diminish or deny Steve's symptoms. He believed that Steve is sick, and believed that he wants to get better. Believe me, my friends - it makes all the difference in the world.
This was our first visit to Walter Reed since the Washington Post blew the whistle on the horrendous conditions there last year. I am pleased to report that, overall, there seems to be a change in the tone and atmosphere of the place. Maybe the $800,000 spent on pixie dust was worth it, after all.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Effective ad placement, for a very captive audience
I was amused to see this poster on the wall of the women's bathroom at the Deployment Health Clinical Center at Walter Reed.
Someone has a sense of humour!
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